Follower for vertical files



Aug. 25, 1931. a. G. RAND 1,320,888

FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL- FILES Filed April 13. 1929 Patented Aug. 25, 1 931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IBENJ'AMIN RAND, OF NORTH T'ONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR IO REMINGTON RAND IN C,,.OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK FOLLOWER FOR VERTICAL FILES 7 Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to filing equipment adapted to slide along the drawer and to abut .the end of the collected material in the file. It is also customary to provide resiliently secured locking devices to maintain the plates in any desired position, and these devices often include a lever and a spring, so con--.

structed as to permit of the movement ofthe plate when the lever is pressed with the fingers, and to lock the plate automatically when the lever is'released. This invention relates specifically to an improved construction in devices of this character.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a drawer or file having a follower disposed therein;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the follower assembly. taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing certain structural elements of the follower.

The numerals indicate the side walls of a filing drawer, such as a sheet-metal file, having also a bottom wall 11 formed with depressed bearing surfaces 12 and a centrally disposed depressed follower channel 13. formed with overhanging lips 14. A follower plate 15, provided with a lower laterally extending flange 16, is positioned in the drawer for slidin movement therealong. and it is supported in any desired position by means of a supporting member 17.

This member consists of a sheet-metal yoke having a web 18 for contact with the flange 16' of'the follower plate 15, and depressed a-ngularly turned sides 19 which re spectively contact with the under surfaces of the lips 14 and the side walls of the channel 13. A tongue 21 projects upwardly from the web 18, through a slot (not delineated) in the flange 16, and against the face of the 1929. Serial No. 354,886.

follower plate 15, to provide a rigid assembly and means for securing the parts together. It will be observed that this construction provides means for supporting the plate in a track extending longitudinally of the drawer, and in which the follower may be moved from one position to another.

A pair of flanges 23 are struck out from the plate 15, on opposite sides of and adjacent the tongue21, thereby making apertures 24 in the plate 15. The flanges 23 are formed with apertures 26 for the reception of the ends of a locking spring 27. A follower lever 28 is mounted by the spring around or between the flanges 23. This lever is made to have a flat exterior surface 29 merginginto a slightly bent upper exterior surface portion 31 and inwardly extending flanges 32, each of which is perforated to provide an aperture adapted to register with'the adjacent aperture in the flange 23. The lower margin of the lever 28 is formed with downwardly projecting fingers 33 adapted to seat in regularly spaced and aligned apertures 34 formed in the channel 13 of the drawer, in

order to provide a locking means for the fol-- lower. The locking position is illustrated in the drawings. p I

. The spring 27 is formed with a U-shaped portion 36 having its respective ends coiled to form one or more helical convolutions 37, The ends are then carried downwardly for a short distance and then are bent outwardly to form lug portions 38 which pass through the apertures 26 in the flanges 23 and the corresponding apertures inthe flanges 32 of the lever 28. The convolution of the springs have a reactive support on' the tongue 21 carrying the follower and the tension in the spring 27 is naturally such that the U-shaped portion 36 tends to swing downwardly toward the bent ends 38. When the spring is positioned as shown, however, this downward rotation ofthe U-shaped portion 36is resisted, as this part of the spring presses against the inner surface of the portion 31 of the lever 28. The helical portions 37 of the spring press against the tongue 21 secured to the plate 15. The moment of forces thus created cannot displace the lever 28 from the plate 15,

wardly and into contact with the drawer,

however, since the extremities of the spring 27 serve as securing pins passing through the apertures of the flanges 28 and the lever 28.

llhe net effect, therefore, is to cause the upper end of the lever 28 to move outwardly, thereby driving the lower end of the lever ina flange l6 and flanges 23 to provide stress reducing cooperation, over the entire area of the follower, so that the upper edges at opposite sides of the central recess 40 in the upper, central portion of the follower are rigid, and any tendency of the plate to bend at the upper ends of openings 24, is also avoided, while opposite sides are prevented from bending around the central portion through the cooperation of beads 39 and flange 16. The two:part structure of the fol-,

lower including plate 15 and supporting member 17 of the special form illustrated is another feature adding simplicity of structure but efficiency in use and'operation.

I am aware that it is old to provide followers with locking levers which are springactuated, but, insofar as I am aware, it is new to construct the spring in such manner as to se ve this purpose and, at the same time,

plate, and depressed angular side portions on said web. 8

3. The combination of a follower plate, a support for the plate, a channel member for guiding said support, a lever having locking engagement with said channel member, and

a spring having projecting ends passing vthrough the lever and plate and forming a pivotal connection therebetween, said spring having a reactive portionengaging the follower support and having a portion res1liently engaging saidlever to urge said lever about said pivot and maintain said lever in looking engagement with said channel member. V

r 4. A file follower comprising a follower plate having a pair of laterally extending flanges integral therewith, a support for said plate, a locking lever formed of a plate having laterally extending marginal flanges overlapping the flanges on said follower plate, and a spring mounted between said lever and said plate and having its end engaging through the flanges of sai.dlever and follower plate to pivotally secure the same together, said spring having a reactive portion engaging the follower support and having an extension resiliently engaging and actuating said lever, other portions thereof engaging said follower plate and locking lever for normally moving said leverinto locking position.

' BENJAMIN e. RAND.

to form a mounting for the lever. As here inafter more formally stated, I claim this improvementas my invention, and wish to point out that the simplification of'the construction Without loss of utility is advantageous in the art, 'The various forms and modifications of the specific'structure shown are, of course, obvious to those skilled in the art in View of these specifications.

I claim:

I 1. A file follower comprising a plate, a support for the plate, a locking lever, and a spring interposed between. the lever and plate, said spring normally forcing the lever into locking position, and the ends of said springs being secured to the plate and the lever to form the only pivotal connection therebetween. I

2. A file follower comprising a plate formed of sheetanetal having a lateralfian {re 1 "on the lower edge, a support member for said plate formed of a piece of sheetrmetal having a web portion engaging said flange, and hav ng a laterally extending tongue extend ing through saidflange and secured to said 

